U.S. Sanctions Venezuelan Officials Amid Fears Of Power Grab

As Venezuelan demonstrators began two days of protests against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s plan to rewrite his nation’s constitution, the Trump administration Wednesday slapped sanctions on several key Venezuelan officials.

Maduro’s opponents say that he is using the revisions to the constitution, which will be implemented through an assembly that will be elected Sunday, as a means to further extend his control.

Maduro has said he only wants to restore order to his nation. However, in a non-binding referendum on his proposal, seven million Venezuelans voted against Maduro’s plan.

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The sanctions announced by the Treasury Department freeze the U.S. assets of the Venezuelan officials and prohibit anyone in the U.S. from dealing with them.

“As President Trump has made clear, the United States will not ignore the Maduro regime’s ongoing efforts to undermine democracy, freedom, and the rule of law,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

“As our sanctions demonstrate, the United States is standing by the Venezuelan people in their quest to restore their country to a full and prosperous democracy. Anyone elected to the National Constituent Assembly should know that their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela could expose them to potential U.S. sanctions,” the statement said.

Four officials sanctioned are involved in Sunday’s elections. Others have ties to the military or law enforcement groups the U.S. has blamed for a violent response to peaceful protests.

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“The Venezuelan opposition estimates up to 15,000 civilians have been wounded in recent protests, with over 3,000 arrested and 431 political prisoners in detention,” the Treasury Department said.

“Arbitrary arrests are rampant, as is physical abuse against detainees; alleged instances of torture and other violations and abuses are perpetrated by the Bolivarian National Guard, the Bolivarian National Police and other security forces,” the statement added.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., had called for action against officials connected with the election.

” … the current situation in Venezuela justifies sanctions on numerous individuals responsible for supporting the Maduro regime,” Rubio said in a statement co-authored with Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N..J.

“This is only the beginning for Maduro and those empowering him to destroy democracy and abuse the Venezuelan people,” Rubio said in a statement to the Miami Herald. “More sanctions await should Maduro move forward with Sunday’s fraudulent vote.”